Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Can anybody tell me if they could detect a taste/quality difference in their fish relative to their feed? Raising tilapia and maybe some prawn, and am currently using a Little Strike pond fish food. 32% protein based. I've seen a few posts about "organic feed" and wondered if the results justifies the cost. I can also feed my fish from the veggies grown, but they probably won't grow as fast with a lower protein diet?? Just curious if anyone has actually had the time to compare fish harvest firsthand.

When i was running from the koi pond i frequently tossed lettuce leaves and stuff into the pond,the koi and tilapia loved it,as much as a food source i think they actually enjoyed chasing it around the surface,as far i am concerned it is just recycling nutrients,it helps the fish which in turns helps the system,benefiting everything.

I use organic out of principal. The point of it is more than just taste. I know that I am not adding GMOs into my system. ( non organic feed most certainly uses GMO grains in it) I know that it is grown without pesticides. In a recirculating environment, even very small amounts bioaccumulate.

In my experience the trout we feed on organic food taste more like a sea bass, the one batch I have fed on normal trout foot the taste was not so fishy.

In my opinion it comes down to the amount of fish meal/oil contained in the two formulation.

Normally the average trout food contain more GMO corn/soy meal substitute and that does not add taste to fish!
As a chef I prefer the fishy taste thus opting for organic trout food, and my ethical consciousness will mostly support this choice too.

The price difference it's almost negligible considering the quality of the fish you can obtain.

Also I supplement the trout diet with slug eggs/toad eggs/larvae/grasshoppers/worms/flies/mozzyes and any living bug coming out of the Green house.

In tilapia and other herbivorous species the flavour is definitely different as they have a complete different diet.
Tilapia/carps still taste of fish...but IMO just not as good as trout/brook trout/red fin perch/Barra/sturgeon.

My trout are on Skretting organic feed.